We are going to be in San Franscio without our newborn or toddler for two days. It is a very big deal. We are staying in the Fisherman's Wharf. Where should we eat and what should we do? I am a stay at home mother so our budget is pretty tight.

Yes, I can imagine : ) SF is great for free sightseeing - you won't get bored no matter what area you are in. Try Union Square for window shopping at the large Macys, Nieman Marcus, Saks, etc....visit the Sheraton Palace...take an inexpensive ferry ride on the bay - maybe to Angel Island, a State Park. To cut costs, splurge on lunch, snack for dinner...try for nearby Sausalito for lunch on deck over water (Horizons)- visit Golden Gate Park, or any park - you will not be bored in whatever you do. Try the Tonga Room for their buffet which starts at 5 p.m. - then enjoy dancing w/intermittent rain showers & thunder storms - located on Nobb Hill then tour the Mark Hopkins hotel - you may try to visit the Bank of America building riding the elevator to the top to sneak a peek at the incredible view from there (near Chinatown)...walk through Chinatown. Don't forget the beach and of course, the cable cars! Small restaraunts are abundant for cheaper meals. Visit the Embarcadero (waterfront) area for local crafts, music, and beautiful scenery - tour the piers. Wear comfortable shoes - much walking to do.

My favorite is taking the cable cars around ($2)! I like the food stalls and restaurants around Fisherman's Wharf. Both "touristy" but cheap and fun.

The fare for a cable car is now $5.00 each way (single ride on a single cable car) and I believe an all-day cable car pass is $15.00.

wow, thanks for the update. i thought that was what i paid just last year. clearly i was mistaken.

Hello liz521. You might want to check out todays SF Chronical's website which is www.sfgate.com.

In the upper left click on "Todays Chronical". The scroll down and click on the Magazine section.

Click on the Bargain Bites article for SF. This might give you some good ideas.

Have a wonderful time in SF..every mother needs a break from the little ones from time to time.

Another resource you can use is the website of the Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Association -

http://www.fishermanswharf.org/

There you will be able to familiarize yourselves with: area hotels, area maps, calendar of upcoming events, attractions, shops, restaurants, et cetera.

Some discount coupons are available for print-out.

Have a look.

suze - You probably were not "clearly mistaken" about the price you paid in 2004, it's just that a couple of steep fare hikes have occurred since then, particularly at the beginning of this month.

You'll save some $$ if you can get a hotel in an area (some more residential yet central) other than FW - which is both overpriced and overrated.

The best (and least expensive) thing to do would be to pick some different kinds of areas/neighborhoods and then walk, walk, walk.

Look at all the 75 or so different walking tours website below) run by the San Francisco City Guides organzation.

http://www.sfcityguides.org/

BTW,
The walking tours listed in the website in the above post are free!

Another couple of thoughts on lodging - you might want to try Priceline in order to get a hotel near Union Square. That way you'll be near lots of shops, things to do, and places to eat. Do some research at www.biddingfortravel.com first to get an idea of how much to bid.

If you're not comfortable with that, there are a number of motels in the Marina/Cow Hollow area that are fairly inexpensive and good quality. Try www.cowhollowmotorinn.com, www.marinamotel.com, www.marinainn.com for starters.

Have a wonderful time!

Lee Ann

I was in San Francisco for Labor Day weekend. You can rent a bicycle at Pier 39 1/2 and bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. I stayed at the hostel for $25 and shared a room with several others. They had a hugh kitchen in the basement where you can cook your own food.

I drove up to Harbin Hot Springs (2 hours north) and sat in the hot springs for hours. Most but not all were nude. Very relaxing.

At the bottom of the cablecar line, don't walk along Market Street, certainly not towards town hall (don't turn right with your back to the cablecar), the jetsam and flotsam of wasted humanity is a serious downer when you are confronted by it so starkly, seeing people do their business, and I mean every kind of business, on the sidewalks and all. That'll put a dent into your S.F. experience.

This is not a social comment, let alone a political one, it's a traveler's observation of fact, so - no flames, please.

WK

We paid $11/person for a daily pass for the cable cars last week. Very difficult to use, as the lines to board at the ends were lengthy during rush hour (and again on the weekend), and the cars were nearly always full elsewhere along the lines. Taxi fares are cheap, as San Francisco is compact.

You may rent bikes at any of several places along the Wharf, though you are advised to rent near the GG Bridge to avoid motor and pedestrian congestion along the Wharf.
See the sea lions at Pier 39. Take a tour of Alcatraz or the ferry to Sausalito and back. Dine in North Beach-great Italian food and night life, much reasonably priced.
Don't miss the panoramic view from the Coit Tower. Climb Filbert from Levi's Plaza for another memorable view.

Whatever you do, don't eat at Fisherman's Wharf. It is poorest, most overprice tourist trap food in America. As far as what you should eat, how can anybody give you any advice if you don't narrow it down? There must be a zillion restaurants in SF.